Some heroes walk on four legs. That’s true both in comics and in the real world. Now DC is joining forces with Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines to bring the spirit of comic book heroism to a new generation of service animals. The publisher today announced a year-long collaboration with GDA|TLC that includes sponsorship of a litter of service dogs-in-training, events, activations, and more.
In a statement announcing the partnership, DC president, publisher, and chief creative officer Jim Lee described the purpose of the publisher’s latest team-up:
“DC and GDA|TLC have an extraordinary opportunity to tell a powerful story together, one that unites DC’s iconic Super Heroes with an organization dedicated to creating life‑changing, four‑legged heroes. Working together spotlights a future where comic book heroism becomes real‑world action, reflected in extraordinary dogs whose bravery and service transform lives one step at a time.”
Lee also introduced the litter of five Golden-Labrador puppies sponsored by DC, each named after characters from both last year’s Superman film and this year’s Supergirl film: Krypto, Clark, Lois, Kara, and Lobo. We know you only clicked on this to see some cute dogs, so here they are:
Along with events throughout the year, fans will have the opportunity to meet this quintet of cuteness at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. Presumably they’ll be working, though, so be sure to ask first before petting them.
The Los Angeles-based Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines is a non-profit organization that trains guide and service dogs and provides them, free of charge, to a variety of clients, from the visually impaired to veterans and children with autism. The organization has over 300 active graduates, with last year’s class including 21 guide dogs, 10 veteran service dogs, 21 autism service dogs, and 6 facility dogs.
In the statement, Tony Blevins, GDA|TLC’s president and director, and DC SVP and general manager Anne DePies, expounded on the importance of the partnership between the two organizations:
“Puppy Go Home Day is where potential turns into purpose,” said Tony Blevins, president and director of Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines. “Partnering with DC brings a powerful and joyful energy to this moment. Together, we are celebrating the everyday heroes who open their homes, dedicate their time, and believe in the extraordinary impact these dogs will one day have on the world.”
“At DC, we’re known for telling stories about Super Heroes, but this collaboration gives us the opportunity to share a different kind of story, one rooted in real-world heroism,” said Anne DePies, SVP and general manager, DC. “The most impactful stories inspire connection and empathy, and last year at SDCC we saw firsthand how these guide dogs sparked joy and meaningful engagement with fans at the DC booth. That emotional response is a powerful reminder of the life‑changing impact these dogs will one day have on someone in need. We’re proud to help shine a light on the everyday heroes who make an extraordinary difference in our communities.”
Here are the puppies again, in case you missed them:
You can follow these goodest of dogs’s progress at dc.com/pups. No word yet on service dog-themed variant covers from DC, but I bet putting cute dogs on comic book covers would basically be like printing money.
